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Babalwa Latsha: 'This tournament is historic for us as a team and a nation'
By Martyn Thomas at Sandy Park, Exeter
Babalwa Latsha hopes the Springbok Women’s run to the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 quarter-finals can help inspire children to “dream as big as they can”.
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Latsha scored the opening try of her side’s first ever World Cup quarter-final to give South Africa a 20th-minute lead against New Zealand at Sandy Park, having dominated the first quarter.
The match was tied at 10-10 at half time and although the six-time world champions pulled away in the second half to win 46-17, the Springbok Women have highlighted their potential by breaking new ground in England.
“I’m exceptionally proud of the team. It’s come such a long way and to be able to come this far in this tournament is historic for us as a team and as a nation. It is definitely something that we can build on too,” Latsha said.
“I think at home the impact transcends race or gender or any demographics of our country that is South Africa.
“I think it’s something that will reverberate through the ages, I would hope and it will encourage and inspire a brand-new generation of young people in our country to dream as big as they can and that they actually see their true value and they live up to their fullest potential.”
Latsha was adamant that South Africa’s achievement at the World Cup must be a stepping stone to bigger things.
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“It can never be the pinnacle,” she added. “Our journey is one that’s ongoing, so we can never truly say that it’s reached, or this is its pinnacles.
“If anything, it’s a cusp of a wave that needs to continue and will continue here in South Africa and all over the world at home.”
How that momentum is maintained will be a discussion point beyond the World Cup but it’s clear South Africa need and deserve exposure to the world’s best teams.
“Talent is something that we’re not short of in South Africa, but it’s important for us to keep playing top nations, because that makes us better as well,” Latsha said.
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“It gives us a good feel of what international rugby is about, and I think that over the past four or five Test matches prior to the World Cup, we’ve played Canada who are one of the top teams, the Black Ferns as well, who are a top team.
“So, I think, that is what we need more than anything else to keep us, to keep our growth spurt, I’d say.”
Following Saturday’s match the two teams came together to reflect on what had been a memorable occasion in Exeter.
Black Ferns hooker Georgia Ponsonby believes the Springbok Women have limitless potential if they are given the right backing.
“We kind of went on our pathway to professionalism a few years ago. And I guess they’re still on that pathway for them,” Ponsonby said.
“And, oh man, when I look at the players and the skill level that they’ve got, give them some money, give them more time together, they’re gonna be an unstoppable team.”
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